CMC Develops Automated “Chicken Harvester” for Poultry Farms

The Italian company designed a machine that loads the birds at the farms and places them in containers to send them to the processing plants.

Italian manufacturer CMC has developed an automated poultry harvesting machine designed to streamline bird collection operations in broiler houses.

The system is aimed at improving productivity while meeting strict biosecurity and animal welfare standards by reducing bird stress and limiting direct human contact during loading operations.

The CMC Apollo Generation 2 is an automated poultry loading machine designed to collect broiler chickens inside poultry houses and transfer them into transport containers for shipment to processing plants. The system uses conveyor-based handling technology to reduce animal stress, improve biosecurity, and increase loading efficiency. With capacities ranging from 8,000 to 12,000 birds per hour, the machine replaces manual catching processes with a continuous automated workflow based on controlled conveying and integrated weighing systems.

How It Works: CMC’s Automated Poultry Harvester

Key Figures

Loading capacity: 8,000-12,000 chickens/hour
Throughput: 16-26 tonnes/hour
Automated loading process designed to minimize bird stress
Reduced direct operator contact during handling operations

Special harvester

The machine collects chickens directly inside poultry houses and gently transfers them into transport containers destined for processing plants.

Designed in accordance with EHEDG (European Hygienic Engineering & Design Group) standards, the equipment incorporates stainless steel and galvanized metal components in all areas that come into contact with the birds. The transport cages are also designed to avoid contact with litter.

The harvesting unit features a folding header equipped with conveyor belts that guide the chickens toward a central channel before they are automatically loaded into cages or transport containers.

Market Context

Automation in poultry production continues to expand as producers seek higher labor efficiency, improved hygiene standards, and better animal welfare compliance. Automated harvesting systems are increasingly being adopted in intensive poultry operations to reduce manual handling and optimize logistics between farms and processing facilities.

Outlook

CMC’s development reflects the broader trend toward automation and biosecurity-focused equipment in the livestock sector. As labor shortages and welfare regulations become more relevant across global poultry markets, demand for automated bird-handling technologies is expected to increase.